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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Birds eye maple cabinets

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Expert: - 11/16/2010


Question
I am purchasing a home with birds eye maple cabinets.I would like to
lighten them. Ideally I would like them almost white. Is this possible and
how would it be done? Can I just glaze over them ? They presently are
light,but very yellow.

Answer
Hi Wendy,Maple will darken over time into a mellow amber-Brown color due to oxidation and UV light...it's the natural aging process of the wood, being a natural material. The finish can also add coloration to the wood. You would have to chemically strip these to even see what the "natural" color really is, and that's a HUGE job, especially if the cabinets are less than 20-25 years old, because the finishes used on cabinets like this would likely be a catalyzed, and a real BEAR to remove...meaning LOTS of labor and mess to do right.Trying to glaze lighter over a brown or amber color is really not possible, unless you like the effect of the brown-amber showing through, because it will. You could always paint (although I don't recommend paint on kitchen cabinets over a finish like that), but that would be a huge shame, as these ar likely high end, expensive cabinets....

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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